Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Earthwork remains of a causeway recorded in 1485 carried the Canterbury - Thanet road after the Wantsum Channel silted up. Sarre Wall - C1485 Causeway

Monument Types

• CAUSEWAY (Medieval - 1485 AD to 1485 AD)

Full description

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[TR 241637 to TR 255649] Sarre Wall [GT]. (1)

The Sarre Wall which was wide enough for use as a road, under an act of 1485 when the Wantsum Channel had silted up so much that the area between Thanet and the Mainland was covered with water only at high tides, making the ferry impracticable. (2-3)

The Sarre Wall runs in an angled course across the silted up bed of the old Wantsum Channel from the end of the ridge of high ground on the mainland at Wall End at TR 24106375, to the corresponding ridge on Thanet at TR 25626499. It is a broad causeway averaging 14.0m in width and 1.0m in height with a drainage ditch on Thanet at TR 25626499. It is a broad causeway averaging 14.0m in width and 1.0m in height with a drainage ditch on either side; its present dimensions and appearance are undoubtedly the result of modification to carry the main Canterbury-Thanet road.
Published 25" survey correct. (4)


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SOURCE TEXT
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( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

6" 1960



( 2) General reference

History of Kent Vol 4 1799 (E Hasted) Page(s)305-6



( 3) Kent Archaeological Society Archaeologia Cantiana : being contributions to the history and archaeology of Kent

(GP Walker) 44, 1932 Page(s)179-80



( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 CFW 20.11.63

Description from record TR 26 SW 6:
[TR 241637 to TR 255649] Sarre Wall [GT]. (1) The Sarre Wall which was wide enough for use as a road, under an act of 1485 when the Wantsum Channel had silted up so much that the area between Thanet and the Mainland was covered with water only at high tides, making the ferry impracticable. (2 - 3) The Sarre Wall runs in an angled course across the silted up bed of the old Wantsum Channel from the end of the ridge of high ground on the mainland at Wall End at TR 24106375, to the corresponding ridge on Thanet at TR 25626499. It is a broad causeway averaging 14.0m in width and 1.0m in height with a drainage ditch on either side; its present dimensions and appearance are undoubtedly the result of modification to carry the main Canterbury-Thanet road. Pulished 25" survey correct. (4)

<1> OS 6" 1960 (OS Card Reference). SKE48367.

<2> Hist of Kent 4 1799 305-6 (E Hasted). (OS Card Reference). SKE43980.

<3> Arch Cant 44 1932 179-80 illus (G P Walker) (OS Card Reference). SKE35134.

<4> F1 CFW 20.11.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42661.

<5> Field report for monument TR 26 SW 6 - November, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5890.

Sources and further reading